Parents charged in child abuse case

FOND DU LAC - A Fond du Lac mother has been charged with beating and starving two of her children and authorities say, the children's father did nothing to stop it.

Now, both Jeana and Troy Riehl are facing multiple counts.

Court documents say Jeana Riehl would beat her two adopted children with items like rolling pins, hunting arrows and a horse whip. Those beatings allegedly drew blood and left bruises.

The children were adopted from Africa and are 11 and 12 year-old-boys.

According to the criminal complaint, Riehl starved the children and locked them in rooms for days on end.

The documents say her husband, and the boys adoptive father, Troy Riehl saw the abuse, but never reported it.

Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney told FOX 11 the alleged abuse went on for years.

"It went back, potentially as far as 2008," said Toney.

The court documents also alledge the Riehls abused several biological children they have together, however the documents say that abuse was not as severe. One of those biological children, who is now an adult, was the one who told social workers about the alleged abuse.

"If there are allegations of child abuse, it's something I think you'll find any district attorney's office across the state, or law enforcement takes very seriously," said Toney.

In the complaint Jeana Riehl says the children exaggerated the abuse. She says she never denied them food, but did admit to hitting them with objects.

We tried to reach the Riehls for comment at their home, but were unsuccessful.

The defense attorneys in the case also declined to comment.

Toney would not say who is caring for the children now, but that they are safe.

"What I can tell you is there was a no contact issued by the court in the criminal case in reference to the mother and father with the children," Toney explained.